How to Treat Sunburned Lips
How to Prevent and Treat Sunburned Lips
After a long day in the sun, finding out you have a few spots of sunburn is such a bummer. It usually happens on the same couple of body parts summer after summer: your back and shoulders, your nose, and chest area. But have you ever had sunburned lips? I get pretty annoyed when I find myself sunburned but feeling that my lips have gotten burnt puts me on a whole new level of frustration. It’s painful and can sometimes turn into blisters. (Everyone just loves having sores on their mouth, right!?) The lip area is a sensitive one and it’s important to remember to treat that area just like we do the rest of our body and protect it from sun exposure as best we can.
What are the Symptoms of Sunburned Lips?
The symptoms of sunburned lips may not be as noticeable as when you have sunburn elsewhere on your body. Mild irritation of the lips or dryness may be your only signs. Your bottom lip is more likely to get burned than your top - its position on your face exposes it more directly to the sun. If you notice sunburn on other parts of your face and your lips feel a little weird, chances are they received a little too much sun that day too. Below are a few signs that your lips may be sunburned:
Redness - lips that are redder than normal
Tenderness to the touch or a burning sensation
Lips that are drier than normal, peeling skin
Swelling
Blisters may form in more severe burns
Is this a cold sore or sunburn?
When blisters form, you may be asking yourself “how can I tell the difference between sunburn blisters and cold sores?” While cold sore blisters or fever blisters may appear as a result of sun exposure, they are not the same as blisters that appear from sunburn. I’m going to get a little descriptive and gross so skim on by if you don’t like words such as puss and ooze.
Cold sore blisters have a distinct feeling surrounding them before they appear. I kind of liken it to having an aura prior to a migraine happening. A cold sore aura is usually a tingling, burning or itching sensation a day or so before the blister appears. The fluid filled blister typically shows up on the edge of your lips and after a few days, it will burst and ooze, leaving behind a crusty sore. Great description, right?
Blisters from sunburn follow a different pattern. They are small, fluid filled blisters that may burst and resolve in a few days. They appear a few hours after the sunburn occurs and you won’t feel the same tingling or itching sensation that precedes a cold sore. You may experience peeling skin around the blister area as well. Sunburn on other exposed areas of your body is a good indication that the blisters on your lips are also due to sun exposure.
How to Prevent Sunburn On Your Lips
Making sure your lips don’t get sunburned in the first place is so important. Any sunburn you receive causes skin damage and can increase your risk of cancer in the future. Many lip-balm companies now have products with sunscreen in them and you should make a habit of applying them daily. Because you are often eating, drinking and licking your lips, you will need to apply sunscreen to your lips more often than other parts of your body. Any lip balm with SPF for sun protection will do the job but I personally like to find formulas made with beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E, and/or essential oils. I’m not opposed to using others as I usually have sticks of Carmex stashed all over the boat, in various bags, and in the pockets of my coats and pants. I just find the natural ingredients absorb nicely into your lips to keep them hydrated as opposed to petroleum jelly based balms which create a barrier on the surface to hold moisture in (hence the really shiny, gooey lips). If you are going to be heading to the beach or swimming in the ocean, try to have a product that is mineral based. Mineral based sunscreens are safer for our coral reefs and healthier for our bodies.
Learn more about Reef Safe Sunscreens
Here are a few of my favorites for lip sun protection:
The Barr-Co Shea Butter Lip Balm - This is one that I’m currently using. It’s SPF 15 and comes in a large stick, which makes it easy to find when I just toss it into whatever bag I’m carrying that day. It contains Avobenzone and Octinoxate which makes it not reef safe but I try to only use this one if I’m not going to be swimming that day.
The Naked Bee Naked Zinc Lip Balm - It’s SPF 15 and since it is made with zinc oxide, it’s considered reef safe.
Sun-Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm - This one is SPF 30 and is also reef safe.
Carmex - This is a good bargain brand to buy for lip protection from the sun and for dryness. It’s SPF 15 but is not considered reef safe so keep that in mind if using while swimming. Because these are very affordable, I keep them all over the place so there’s always one nearby when I need it.
If you don’t want to spend extra money on an SPF lip balm or you’re not usually a person who uses lip balms or chapsticks, you can just apply regular sunscreen to you lips as you are lathering up your face. Badger has a great sunscreen stick that makes application on your face and lips nice and easy. It’s reef safe too.
Treatment for Sunburned Lips
If you do find yourself with annoyingly sunburned lips, keep the treatment simple. Anything you place on your lips has the chance of being ingested.
Try to avoid the sun – this one is pretty self-explanatory but avoiding more sun exposure on an already sunburned area is crucial. This is easier with other parts of the body as you can cover the areas with clothing. Not so much with the lips. Wearing a large brimmed hat may provide some protection but avoiding the sun altogether for a few days is best.
Aloe vera – if you have a plant at home you can use, that’s preferable, otherwise only purchase a product that is 100% aloe vera based because it’s going to be applied to your mouth. Storing either the gel or one of the plant stalks in the refrigerator can give you more cooling relief when applied.
Cold compress – helps cool off the lips and can give some temporary relief to the burning sensation.
Anti-inflammatory medications – over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen or naproxen can help ease pain and inflammation when you have sunburned lips.
Face moisturizers – use to help the skin stay moisturized while healing.
Stay hydrated – a sunburn can draw water out of your body to the surface of the skin. Drinking plenty of water can help the healing process and prevent dehydration.
Products to Avoid if You Have Sunburned Lips
There are definitely things you want to avoid if you do have sunburned lips. Do not use any product that is petroleum jelly based because it can seal in the heat of the sunburn to your already burned skin. Many lip balms and skin creams have petroleum jelly in it so be conscience of this when applying (you’ll have to ditch the Carmex if sunburn happens). You’ll also want to avoid any aloe products that have things like lidocaine and benzocaine for pain relief. They should not be ingested.
When to Seek Medical Advice
If at any time you are concerned about your sunburn, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. You should also contact your doctor if you develop a fever or rash. Blisters indicate that you have a second-degree sunburn on your lips and with every burn, you are increasing your risk of developing skin cancer. If you have a blister or sore that will not heal, you should be seen by your doctor as well.
While your sunburn may go away in a few short days, the skin damage it leaves behind does not. The damage is cumulative and every burn increases your risks of developing skin cancer down the road. Protecting your lips with a good sunscreen now can prevent a trip to the operating table in the future.
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